Combined timer and distributer.



G. T. BROWN.

COMBINED TIMER AND DISTRIBUTER.

v APPLICATION FILED MAR. 5, 1909. 938,208, Patented 00t.26,19o9. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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COMBINED TIMER AND DISTRIBUTER. v

APPLIOATIQN FILED MAB.. 5, 1909.

938,208. D Patented 001.. 26, 1909g 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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TTUHNE YS GEORGE T. BROWN, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y.

COMBINED TIMER AND DISTRIBUTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 5, 1909. Serial No. 481,223.

lo all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE T. BROWN, a citizenof the United States, and a resident of the city of New York, borough of Manhattan, county and btate of New York, have invented a new and Improved Combined Timer and Distributer, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description'.

This invention relates to certain. improvements in timers and distributers for use in connection with multi-cylinder vinternal combustion engines for controlling the passage of the spark at the gniter.

It is common practice to vary the speed of internal combustion engines by varying the time of the passage of the spark in respect to the position of the piston. In the most common form of timing devices for multicylinder engines, the casing is provided with a plurality of terminals which contact in succession with an inner rotatable member, and the casing is mounted to oscillate for a limited distance in order to vary the time at which the central rotatable contact comes into engagement with any one of the peripheral contacts. Devices of this character possess certain disadvantages in that the casing itself being rotatable and usually s'upported upon the shaft, cannot be held rigid and the time of the spark cannot be accurately controlled when the engine is operating at very high speed.

In my improved construction I support the casing rigidly so that there can be no movement whatsoever', and upon the central rotatable shaft I provide a helical contact member movable longitudinally of the shaft and rotatable therewith. The pitch of the helix and the position ofthe helical member on the shaft, determine the time of closing of the 'electric circuit. 5

Another important feature of my invention involves the provision of a double series of circuit closers, one of which acts as the timer and the other of which acts as the distributer in a system in which primary and secondary circuits and an induction coil are employed. Both the timer and the distributer involve a helical contact member, and the two members are so connected to each other as to operate simultaneously.

Other features -of my invention will be referred to hereinafter and' particularly pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanving drawings, forming a part of this specilication, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures, and in which- Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through a device constructed in accordance with my Patented Oct. 26, 1909.

invention: Fig. 2 is a top plan view of my improved device, portions of the end casing being broken away; Figs. 3 and l are transverse sections on the lines 3-3 and adi, respectively, of Fig. 1; and Fig. 5 is a diagram illustrating one system of wiring which maybe used with my improved device.

In the specific form of combined timer and distributer illustrated in the accompanying drawings, I provide a casing formed of three separate sections 10, 11 and 12, in axial alinement and concentric vwith a central rotatable shaft 13. 'I'he three casing sections are rigid in respect to each other and in Yuse are rigidly secured to the engine frame or to any other suitable stationary support, so that the casing is positively held against rotation or oscillation. The shaft 13 is eared to the engine shaft and .in the specific form illustrated, would be geared to rotate at the same speed for a two-cycle engine and at one-half the speed for a four-cycle engine. The casing section 10 carries the timer portion of the device, while the opposite .casing section 12 carries the distributer portion. rIhe intermediate casing section 11 serves merely to connect the other two casing'sections and supports the means for advancing or retarding the spark simultaneously at the distributer and at the timer.4 The casing section 10 is formed with a closed end le and a sleeve portion 15 which 'constitutes a bearing for the shaft 13. The bearing sleeve may have an anti-friction lining 1G, and

collars 17 and 18 may be provided at theends of the sleeve for holding the shaft against longitudinal movement in respect to the casing. The outer peripheral wall of the casing is provided with an annular row of contacts, the number depending upon the number of cylinders in the engine or the number of points to which the current is to be delivered. The special construction of -these contacts does not involve any important feature of my invention, as they may be of any suitable character but insulated from each other preferably by being insulated from the casing. As shown, each contact includes a tube 19 extending through an openl lO Aing in the casing wall and insulated therefrom by an outer sleeve 2O of insulating malatter may recede slightly Within the tube against the action of the spring. il sleeve nut has threaded engagement with the outer end of the tube,'locking the latter in place, and an electric wire may be secured to the outer end of this sleeve nut 'or to a per- Yif'orated plunger 24k engaging with the outer end of the spring and capableot' a sliding movement Within the sleeve nut lWithin the casii'ig and extending into all three casing sections is a sleeve lit-ting the shaft 13 and movable longitudinally thereof. The sleeve extends beyond the end of the shaft in the casing section l2 and isv there provided with a slot 26 through Which a pin 27 on the shalt may extend, so that the sleeve may move longitudinally of 'the shaft, but is positively prevented 'trom rotating in respect thereto. i

Within the casing section l0 the sleeve carries a contact member for engagement with the balls 2l of the annular row of contacts carried by the casing sect-ion, and this Contact member 28 involves an important feat-ure oil' my invention. The contact member as shown, includes a hub or sleeve 29 locked on the sleeve 25 byI a key 3l and a set screw 32, which together positively prevent any longitndinal or rotary movement of the hub 29 in respect to the sleeve The hub 29 carries a helically disposed llange 33 leading from one end oit the hub to the other end and forming approximately one-third of a complete helical turn. The outersurface ol" 'he helical flange forms a portion of a cylindrical surface and this 'outer surface is adapted to contact with the. several 'balls 2l as the shaft i3 rotates. lll/ith the sleeve 25 and contact-.member 28 in any predetermined position in respect to the shaft 13, it

' is evident that during1 each revolution of the shaft, one portion of the rotary contact member 3Q will come into'engin)V Alent with each and all of the annular rou' ot contact mem bers, and as all of these last-mentioned contact members lie in the plane at right angles to the aXislor rotation, the same portion of the surface of the helix will contact with all of the balls.l By moving thehelix longitudinally of the shaft, a different por tien ot the helical surface will come into the plane of the annular row of Contact merobeis, and the time of they closing` ot' the contact will be advanced .or-retarded. dependent upon the longitudinal direction in which the sleeve 25 is moved.

For controlling the position of the sleeve 25 and the helix'contact member 28, l pro seance vide .the central casing section 1l with large openings 111. the opposite sides thereof, so that in reality the central casing section in- -cludes only tvvo longitudinally-extending bars 34 and 35, connected to a transverse plate 36, serving as a partition between the casing sections l0 and ll, and also serving as' a bearing for the sleeve 25. rl"he casing section 10 Vmay be secured to the casing section 11 in any suitable manner, as, for instance by threading the former to an outwardly-'extending liange 37 on the latter. The sleeve 25 is provided With two annular flanges 38, 38, which hold a collar 39 against longitudinal 'movement in respect 'to the shaft, but permit of the rotation of the sleeve independently of the collar. Two lever arms Ll0, 40, are secured 'to the opposite sides of the casing bar 34 by pivot pins 41, and. the lower ends .of these lever arms are securedto outwardly-extending studs l2 on the collar 39. The outer ends of the lever arms 40, 40, are connected together by a transverse bar 43,- and this bar may be provided 'with a handle lilfor moving, the lever arms simultaneously. The lever arms swing about the pivot pins 41 and operateto move the sleeve 25 longitudinally of the casing and the shat, and to hold the sleeve in any predetermined position in respect to the shaft. Thus, by means of the handle 44e, the contact member 28 may be moved longitudinally of the casing l() and the times of the closing orn the'several contacts may be advanced or retarded at will.

- rlhe distributer portion 0; my improved device is disposed Within or carried by the casing section l2, and is operable simultaneously With the timer portion above described. The casing sect-ion l2 is preferably formed of hard rubber or any other suitable insulating material, and is provided with an end Wall 45 serving as a partition between the casing' sections l1 and l2, and provided with lugs 46 extending into the end of the casing section 11 and held in place by suitable screws.' Att the opposite end the casing section is provided with fa 'removable cover 47, also of insulating material, held in place by' suitable screws. The peripheral Wall portion lof the casing carries an annular row of terminals 48 spaced at equal distances .apart and corresponding in number to the contacts carried by the caslng section 10. As 'the distributer portion is utilized for high potenn tial currents, these terminals need not be of the same complicated character as the contacts carried by the casing section l0. rThe `terminals48, as shown, involve mere studs extendin through the peripheral Wall and havin t eir outer ends serving as binding post-s Llor the attachment of Wires.

l lflithin the casinr section 12', the sleeve 25 has rigidl l secured to the end thereof a block: ll-9o insulating material, a portion of in Figi. cylin ers eeaaoev which presents a peripheral Wall parallel to butspaced from the inner surface of the peripheral vWall of the casing. This outer peripheral portion of the block has inserted l'therein a helically-dsposed strip 50, corresponding in length, pitch and Width to the outer surface ot the helical flange 33 ot' the timer. This strip is inserted in the insulating block 49, so that the latter serves to insulate the strip from the sleeve For providing electric connections to this helical circuit-closing strip 5U, l provide a metallic tube 5l extending through the block substantially parallel to the shaft and at one side thereof, and through this sleeve extends a rod 52 of a length substantially equal to the interior length ot' the casing section l2. T he tube and block are tree to slide along the rod, and the latter is rotated about the sleeve 25 by the block. The end Wall 47 of the casing carries an inner contact plate 53, which engages With one end of the rod 52 during the rotation of the latter. A bolt 54 extends through the end wall 4T to hold the plate 53 in position, and the outer end of this` bolt `constitutes a binding post to which a Wire may be connected. As the terminal 54 is at all times electrically connected to the helical strip 510, and as the latter comes adjacent the terminals 4S in succession, it is evident that a circuit may be closed from the terminal '54 l to each ot the terminals 48 in succession during the rotation of the shat't, and as the block 49 is carried by the sleeve and movable longitudinally with the latter, the time at which the circuit will be closed may be varied.

hlyimproved timer may be used by itself .tor low potential ignition systems, or the distribnter vmay be used by itself in certain high potential ignition systems, and certain features of either may be incorporated in the other, but l preferably employ the device substantially as illustrated.

A system in Which my improved device may be used is illustrated diagramniatically ln this system I employ six engine A, B, C, D, E and F, and having spark plugs or other electric ignition means e, b,.c,'cl, e, and ji, respectively. Wires a, b', c, d,.c and f connect the several ignitei's to the several terminals 48 of the distribnter. A wire g leads from the engine frame through the secondary /t of an induction coil H, and thence to the terminal 54 and the helical strip 50. 'A battery l is connected by a wire to the primary /t of the induction coil and thence to the engine frame, which is, o course, electrically connected to the shaft 13 of the helical tiange l. rlhe other Wire m leads from the battery to each of the contact balls 2l' of the timer. As the shat't 13 is rotated to bring the helical liange 33 in contact with one of the contact balls 21, the battery circuit may flow through this contact of the timer and through the primary of the induction coil. A secondary current is instantly generated in the secondary circuit, and the high potential current may How to the distributer and through one or the terminals 48 to the corresiionding igniter and thence back to the secondary. The secondary circuit is closed at substantially the saine time that the primary circuit is closed, so that sparks pass at the several igniters in succession during the rotation ot the shaft i3. rlhe particular system illustrated involves the use ot' only a single induction coil and the use of the enlgine Ytraine as a portion of both the primary and the secondary circuit, but it is, of course, evident that all ot the circuits may be formed indepeiulently ot' the engine frame and that separate induction coils` may be used for each igniter.

.l-laving thus described my invention, I claiin as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

l. iiydcvice ot' the class described, comprising a casing ot' insulating material, a shaft extending thereinto, a block ot'insulating material carried by said shat't and rotatable therewith and movable longitudi nally in respect thereto, a helically-disposed contact strip carried by said block at the outer face thereof, a plurality oi contacts carried by said casing and terminating ad` jacent the path ot' travel of said Contact strip, a rod carried by said block and elec# trically connected to said contact strip and held against longitudinal movement, a terminal and a member electrically connecting said terminal with said rod during the rotation of the shaft.

2. A combined timer and distributer, comprising threecasing sections in axial alinement, a shaft concentric therewith, a sleeve encircling said shaft and movable longitudinally in respect thereto, contact members carried by said sleeve in the terminal casing sections, a plurality oi terminals carried by said last-n'ientioned casing sections and each serving to close a separate circuit therethrough, and a lever pivoted, Within the center casing section and having engagement Withgsaid sleeve for moving the saine longitudinally. Y

8. A combined timer and distributor, comprising three casing sections in axial alineinent, a shaft concentric therewith, a lsleeve encircling said shaft and movable longitudinally in respect thereto, contact members carried by said sleeve in the terminal casing sections, and each presenting a helically-disposed contact tace, a plurality of ter- .i'ninals carried by said last-mentioned casing Casin# @A device of the classrdescribed, com-l Aprismg a substantially stationary casing of helically-disposed contact strip carried byV said block` substantially concentric With the inner, surface of the peripheral Wall of said casing, an annular row ci contacts carried by said peripheral Wall, a terminal on said g, and electrical connections from said terminal'to said helical strip and unaffected by the longitudinal n'iovement of said iny sulating block. A

5. A device of the class described, comprising a casing of insulating material, aI block of insulating Amaterial Within said casing, means for rotating said block, means for moving said block longitudinally, a helical contact strip carried by said block7 an annular row of contacts carried by said aan@ casing, a plate carried by said casing upon the inner Wall thereof, and a rod extending through said insulating` block, having sliding connections therewith and maintained in contact with said plate during the rotation of said block.

6. A combined timer and distributor, comprising three casing sections in axial alinement, a shaft concentric therewith, contacting members disposed Within the terminal casing sections and movable lon 'itudinally thereof and. rotatable with sai shaft, a plurality. of terminals carried by said 1ast mentioned casing sections and each serving to close a separate circuit therethrough, and means within the center casing section for moving said contact members longitudinally of their respective casing sections.

In testimony whereof l have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE T. BROWN.

Witnesses F. W. HANAroiui, JonN P. DAVIS. 

